Sue Ferris Quintet (tenor sax, baritone sax, flute); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Stu Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)
The Gala Theatre's lunchtime concert series resumed a couple of months ago. Due to social distancing concerns the events took place in the venue's main theatre. Today it was back to how it used to be as a near capacity audience filed into the Gala's studio space to listen to the Sue Ferris Quintet.
One change to the established line-up introduced pianist Stu Collingwood. The SF5 kicked off with Ellington's Just Squeeze Me. In the absence of a PA system, Ferris and co played it old school: the horns - Ferris, tenor sax and one number on baritone, Graham Hardy, trumpet - projecting to all four corners of the room, the familiar bass and drums combo of Neil Harland and Rob Walker providing a secure foundation.
Ferris remembered the recently departed Chick Corea with a fine reading of Friends. Nicely warmed up, Roy Hargrove's Soppin' the Biscuit heard the band stretch out before taking it down on Leonard Bernstein's ballad One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story. It isn't very often Joe Gordon's Terra Firma Irma makes it into a set list so hearing it today made for a refreshing change. Having carted the big beast (aka baritone sax!) to the gig, it stood idle until near the end of the one hour performance whereupon Ferris pressed it into service on Gerry Mulligan's Rico Apollo.
On a late September afternoon with the sun streaming through the windows, Sue Ferris didn't disappoint, she never does, her quintet always comes up with the goods. The SF5 will be in action once again down the road in Darlington at the Traveller's Rest on Friday 15 October (8:00pm start). October's Gala Theatre concert presents the brilliant guitar duo of James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. It's at the end of the month - Friday 29 - and it's advisable to book tickets in advance (03000 266 600) as it is likely to sell out well in advance. Russell
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